Refrigerator construction



Nov. 3, 1942; D. E. DAILE Y 2,301,020' REFRIGERATOR CION-STRVUCTION Fil ed June 12, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 lbs a a a m;

Nqv. 3,1942. D. E. DAILEY REFRIGERATOR CONSTRUCTION Filed June 12, 1941 4 Sheets-S he e t 2 ZJ G W y M W0 Nov. 3 1942. v D. E. DAILEY REFRIGERATOR consmucuon 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fiied June 12, 1941 D; E. DAILEY REFRIGERATOR CONSTRUCTION 3 Filed June 12, 1941 Nov. 3, 1942.

4 Sheefs-Shaet 4 Patented Nov. 3, 1942 2,301,020 REFRIGERATOR CONSTRUCTION Donald E. Bailey, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to Philco Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 12, 1941, Serial No. 397,792

18 Claims.

I t in the upper portion of the food storage compartment thereof a relatively shallow evaporator which extends substantially entirely across the food storage compartment, and has a depth substantially the same as that compartment so as to occupy substantially the entire top'portion of said compartment. One suitable construction and arrangement of this type isshown and described in the copending application of Frank D. Peltier,

Serial No. 347,526, filed July 25, 1940.

Bearing the foregoing in mind, the principal object of the present invention is to provide, in a domestic refrigerator construction of the type described, a novel unitary front closure or panel member, which serves as a front closure and seal for the space surrounding the evaporator, and wh ch serves also to provide the necessary thermal insulating breakerstrip or closure for the outer shell and the food compartment lining at the front of the refrigerator.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel front closure panel member of the type described which is constructed and arranged to provide a tight seal between the evaporator and the doors opening thereto, thereby serving to exelude air circulated within the food storage compartment from the evaporator interior and effecting more efficient directed circulation of air within said food storage compartment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel front closure or panel member of the character set forth which is fabricated in one piece of suitable thermal insulating material and which is constructed and configurated to provide an unbroken flowing surface from the evaporator doors outwardly to the shell of the refrigerator cabinet,

thereby greatly enhancing the appearance of the refrigerator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel closure or panel member of thermal insulating material as set forth which serves as a seal between the evaporator and its doors and because of its low thermal conductivityoperates to minimize frosting and clouding of the transparent windows in said evaporator doors, and freezing of the latter to the panel.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a refrigerator construction comprising a closure or panel member, of the type described and embodying a novel construction and arrangement of parts whereby assembly of said member in the refrigerator is rendered sufliciently simple and inexpensive to comply with the requirements of quantity production thereof on a commercial basis.

These and other objects of the invention and the various features and details of the construction and function thereof are hereinafter fully set forth, described and claimed, and shown in th accompanying drawings, in which: I

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a domestic refrigerator embodying the present invention, the main door of said refrigerator being open.

Figure 2 is a view in perspective of a unitary front closure or panel member for the evaporator and upper part of the refrigerator cabinet made in accordance with the present invention,

Figure 3 is a partial front elevation view of the refrigerator with the main and inner doors open showing the closure or panel member embodied therein, but with the evaporator doors removed.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in perspective looking upwardly from below the evaporator and the front panel member showing certain features and details of the construction and arrangement of parts in the refrigerator.

Figure 5 is an enlarged view in section taken on lines 5-5, Figure 3.

Figure 6 is an enlarged view in section taken online 66, Figure 3, with the top of the inner refrigerator door shown in its closed position in dotted lines; and

Figure 7 is an enlarged view in section taken on line l--1,.Figure 3.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, reference character R designates generally a domestic refrigerator of the mechanical type comprising an outer metal shell S and an inner metal shell or lining L, the interior of which provides the usual food storage compartment 0. In the present instance, the outer metal shell S of the refrigerator cabinet may be formed of a single piece of sheet metal of inverted U-shape,

to provide the outer top and side walls of the refrigerator and the front edge portion of said shell preferably is bent inwardly at right angles to the remainder of the sheet as shown at I (see Figures 5 and 7), then bent back upon itself as at 2 and then again bent as at 3 reversely upon V itself in a direction inwardly and parallel to the first bent portion l to provide a flange of triple thickness which extends continuously about the sides and top of the refrigerator. The last bent portion 3 of the shell S is of such length that it extends inwardly beyond the bent portions I and 2, as shown in the drawings, to form an inwardly as shown in Figures and 7 of the drawings. a

The space between the shell S and lining L. is

- filled in the usual manner with suitable insulating material (not shown), and the lining is supported in said spaced relation within the shell by means of a plurality of pairs of correspondinsiy P sitioned bracket members 6 and I secured, respectively, to said shell and lining at suitable points about the front edges thereof and secured together by screws or the like 8, one suitable construction and arrangement of such parts being disclosed and described in the copending applioation of Theodore W. Rundell, Serial No. 397,972, flied June 13-, 1941.

The refrigerator is provided with the usual type of door D for closing the front access opening to the food storage compartment 0 and this door embodies the conventional sealing gasket 9, the said door D and its gasket being constructed and arranged so that the door entirely overlies the front of the refrigerator from side 'to side and to the top thereof with the gasket 9 impinging or seating upon the outer bent edge portion i of the shell S. The refrigerator may also be provided with a-shelf-lined inner door structure D of the type shown in certain figures of the drawings.

In refrigerator construction of the presentment, although there is provided sufficient space between the evaporator E and linin'g'L to permit of the formation of frost .on the evaporator exterior surface. 7

To effect a directed or controlled circulation of air within-the food storage compartment C, and thereby accomplish most eilicient cooling and preservation of foodstufi's therein, there is provided, and spaced Just below the evaporator E,

* an air directing 0r baiiie member B of sheet metal. Spaced below the baiile B is a sheet metal plate I) which functions to prevent contact of the circulating air directly with the underside of the baffle 28 and also to minimize sweating on the underside of said battle and to prevent any condensed moisture from dripping into the food storage compartment C. Suspended from this plate b, as by rlunner members it, is a meat receptacle M and this, as well as the construction and operation of the baiiie B and the particular details of the evaporator E, may be, for example, in accordance with the disclosure in the copending application of Frank D. Peltier previously referred to herein.

Now the present invention, inter alia, consists essentially in providing for the front of the evaporator E, and for the adjacent space .between the lining L and shell S, a suitable closure or panel member that will serve to provide for the front 'low heat conductivity, for example, a suitable plastic or like material such as polystyrene that is non-moisture absorbing and capable of being formed in a unitary member by molding or like processes.

Referring particularly to Figures 2, 5 and 6, it will be seen that the member P comprises, at its top and sides, an outwardly directed flange portion Ii of generally uniform width having a shape or contour conforming to the shape or contour of thetop and upper side portions of the refrigerator cabinet, and the member P and its flange portion ii are so dimensioned and proportioned that the latter will reside or extend beyond the lining L into and forwardly of the recessed seat portion 4 of the outer shell S substantially to the inner edge of the doubled portions i and 2 thereof. As shown in said Figure 2, a suitably shaped cutout il' may be provided in the central top portion of the panel P to accommodate the usual cold control mechanism. I

Proceeding inwardly from this outer flange portion Ii, the member P curves or contours rearwardly as at I: into a main body portion i3 which is surrounded on its top and sides by the said flange portion II and has its bottom edge portion formed to provide a forwardly extending flange portion if having at its outer edge a depending lip i5 arranged, when the panel P is in place, to reside forwardly adjacent the front edge of the baiiie B (see Figure 6) and to cooperate therewith in a manner hereinafter set forth. Formed in the body portion i3 are two laterally spaced, relatively large rectangular openings it. Through these access is had to the interior of the front openings compartments of the evaporator E, and the edge portions of the body portion i3 surrounding said openings ii are formed as indicated to provide rearwardly extending flange portions il, arranged to engage and seal snugly against the front edge portions of the evaporator E which surround and define the access openings in the front thereof, for example, as shown in Figure 6. In addition to the large access opening it, there are also provided, along with others, vertically elongated openings l8 through which extend hinges (not shown) for the evaporator door it, the hinges after'passing through said openin s It bein secured to the lining L. The doors I! preferably have transparent panels bounded by suitable frames, and are mounted so as to close tightly against the front of the panel P thereby sealing the evaporator interior against the entrance of air, and providing a thermal break between the portions of the evaporator and the frames of the said doors it. In addition, other openings :1: and u may be provided in the panel member P for accommothe front of the, evaporator E with the flanges II, which surround the openings ll, sealing saidevaporator, so that thesaid openings II in the panel member P register with the front access openings to the eva rator. with the panel between the body portion II and flange portion a',so ,oao

. against the" front edge portions of the walls of thus positioned, the contoured portion II thereof 1 II engages against the diverging or flared flange portion 6 of the lining L, as shown in Figure 5, and the said outer marginal flange portion II extends outwardly and into the recessed seat'portion 4 of the outer shell 8 substantially to the inner edge of the doubled portions I and 2 thereof as aforesaid. v

p ne member Pmayf else ur imth "position "described" ""by suitable fastenin means such as screws or the nicest several 10-- such a trim strip 2| is shaped generally to conform to the contourof the recessed seat portion 4 of the shell S in which it is disposed. More particularly, the trim strip 2| comprises portions 22 and 23 which extend iinfopposite directions and overlie the exposed front surfaces ofthe adjacent edge portions. of the flange ,I I of the panel member Road the (edge portion of the shell S, and, comprises also'fshank and tail portions 24 and 25 which extend,respectively inwardly between the edges of the intumed portion of the said shell and the flange II, and then inwardly between saidflange-QII, and the shell flange edge portion: 3. 1 This trim strip 2i may be held in the position describedby means of a plurality of .clips 26 which engage over the tail portion thereof and the flange edge, portion 3 at a plurality of spacedpo nts about the s1des and top of the cabinet, and these clips 25 preferably are provided with a lip 21 which. engages forwardly over the edge of the panel flange portion II, thereby, serving to hold said clips 28 against displacement.

Mounting of the panel member Pin position in the refrigerator may be; accomplished by first cured in place by the screws 2| position across the frontal thee'vaporator E with the entire length of the peripheral'edge of its flange portion ll tucked behind the portion or leg 22 of the trim strip in the recessed seat 4 of the shell 8, asipreviously described and shown in Figures 3 ando of the drawings. Thus positioned, the "pmay be setioned. I

With, the panel member? secured in place as aforesaid, the lowerl'free portions of the trim strip 2i may be secured to the opposite side wall portions of the outer shell 8 inthe manner previously described, means of clips 2! and suitable breakerstrips '2] of material of low thermal conductivity then applied to close the front opening or'space between the shell 8 .and lining L. These breakerstrlps 28 may be assembled and removably secured in place first by inserting their outer edges behind the inwardly extending leg 22 of the trim strip 2i into the recessed seat portion 4, and then securing their irmer edges to the flange portion 5 of the lining L by means of suitable snap fasteners 30, for example, in accordance with the invention disclosed and described in the copendingapplication of Theodore W.

Rundell, Serial No. 371,945, med December 27,

1940. After this, the joints between the breakerstrip sections 28, and between them and the panel member P, may be connected by means of suit able trim'strips 29 constructed, for example, as shown and described in another copending application. of the said Rundell, Serial No. 348,593,

tion of air about the exterior top and sides of said evaporator, as well as interlorly thereof. Too, the extension of this panel member P from the r evaporator out to the food linerprevents the inrush of air about theloutside of the evaporator,

' and resulting condensation of moisture thereon,

preparatory to mounting'the panel member P in the refrigerator, thestripvil is securedto'the shell S only "at the --top-and= upper yr portions of the sides thereof; the remaining'side portions-of the strip 21' below the-evaporator E being left free of'theshellS. With-the top and upper side portions of the trim strip 2| thus securedto the shell, the edges of the panel flange portion I I, at opposite sides of the panel-member P may be in serted between the trimstiipiportion 22 and the flange edgeportion '3 at apo'i'nt where the st'rip 2 I has been left free of 'the'shell (below; the line of the evaporator bottom) The'pan'el P-thus posi"-' when the main refrigerator door'is open. Fur.- thermore, this panel member serves also to direct substantially all of the air, circulating within the food storage compartmentC rearwardly between the baffle and the underside of the evaporator,

and in addition provideslthe necessary thermal breakerstrip between the lining 'and shell of the c'abi'netdn the regions immediately "adjacent the evaporator. 7

Too, the 'provisi'onfand position ofthejlipfof the panel member forwardly adjacent thefront edge [of the bailie serves to exclude circulating air from the region in front'of the'panel member and its transparent doors, tofjthe end that frost ing'and condensation on the latter is' minimized and, furthermore, the construction of the invention is comparatively 'inexpensivef and readily installed,'.and imparts to the. ,ll pper portionof the refrigerator an unbroken jowingf" surface from the evaporator doors outwardly to thejou'ter shell of the cabinet, thereby, greatly enhancing. the appearance ofthej refripgeraLi;or, 1 f

While a'particular embodiment of'thev inven tion has herein heen illustratedjand"described. it is 'not' intended that 's'aid ,inyention be limited to such disclosme but" that 'chang'es and modlfljca tlons may be made and incorporated within. the

scope of the annexed a ar s 3 tioned'may be then slid upwardly emanate previously menaccess opening in the evaporator, said panel member extending outwardly beyond the food compartment liner to the outer shell and providing a thermal breakerstrip between said liner and shell.

2. A refrigerator comprising an outer shell, a

food compartment liner mounted within said shell and spaced therefrom, an evapcratordisposed in the top of the food compartment liner and having a front access opening thereto, a

unitary panel member of low heat conductivity secured across the front of said evaporator and having therein an aperture registering with the front access opening in the evaporator, said pane1 member extending outwardly beyond the food compartment liner to the outer shell and pro-.-

viding a thermal breakerstrip between said liner and shell, and a door overlying the panel member to close the opening therein and seal the front access opening of the evaporator.

3. A refrigerator comprising an outer shell, a food compartment liner mounted within said shell and spaced therefrom, an evaporator disposed in'the top of the food compartment liner and having a front access opening thereto, a

unitary panel member of low heat conductivity secured across the front of said evaporator and having therein an aperture registering with the front access opening in the evaporator, said panel member extending outwardly beyond the' food compartment liner to the outer shell and provid- 40 ing a thermal breakerstrip between said liner and shell, and means connecting the outer edge of the panel member to the outer shell of the refrigerator.

ductivity extending across the front of said evaporator and having an opening therein registering with the front access opening of the evaporator; said panel member extending outwardly over the flange of the lining member and across the space between said lining and outer shell into the receased seat of the latter, and means fastening the panel member both to the flange of the lining member and to the outer shell.

6. A domestic refrigerator comprising a cabinet providing therein a food storage compartment, a cooling evaporator mounted in the top of said compartment and having a front access opening thereto, a bailie member spaced below said evaporator and operable to direct the circulation of air rearwardly across the bottom surface of the evaporator, and a panel member fitted snugly across the front of said evaporator and having therein an opening registering with the front access opening of the evaporator, said panel member including a depending transverse lower edge portion disposed forwardly adjacent the forward edge of said baflie member and cooperable with the baflie to direct the circulation of air between the latter and said evaporator.

'7. A domestic refrigerator comprising a cabinet providing therein a food storage compartment, a cooling evaporator mounted in the top of said compartment and having a front access opening thereto, a baiile member spaced below said evaporator and operable to direct the circulation of air rearwardly across the bottom surface of the evaporator, a panel member fitted snugly across the front of said evaporator and having therein an opening registering with the front access opening of the evaporator, said panel member including a depending transverse lower edge portion disposed forwardly adjacent the forward edge of said baflie member and cooperable with the bailie to direct the circulation of air between the latter and said evaporator,

and a door overlying the panel member and arranged to seat snugly thereagainst and close the opening therein thereby closing and sealing 4. A refrigerator construction comprising n the front of the evaporator. the said panel memouter shell including side and top wall portions provided at their front edges with an inturned flange having a recessed seat portion in the plane of the front of the refrigerator, a lining providing a food. storage compartment spaced inwardly from the outer shell and having its frontedge portions flanged in'the direction of the flange of the outer shell, an evaporator disposed in the top portion of the food storage'compartment and having a front access opening thereto, and a uni- 55 tary front panel member of low heat conductivity extending across the front of said evaporator and having an opening therein re istering with front access opening of the evaporator, said panel member extending outwardly over the flange of co the lining member and acres the space between said lining and outer shell into the recessed seat of the latter.

5. A refrigerator construction comprising an outer shell including side and top wall portions as provided at their front edges with an inturned flange having a recessed seat portion in the plane of the front of the refrigerator, a lining providing a food storage compartment spaced inwardly from the outer shell and having its front edge portions flanged in the direction of the flange of the outer shell, an evaporator disposed in the top portion of the food storage compartment and having a front access opening thereto,

a unitary front panel member of low heat can- 7 serving to keep circulating air from the region of said door.

8. A domestic refrigerator comprising a cabinet including an, outer, shell and an inwardly spaced lining providing a food storage compartmerit, a cooling evaporator mounted in the top of said compartment and having a front access opening, a battle member spaced below said evaporator and operable to direct the circulation of air rearwardly across the bottom surface of the evaporator, and a panel member fitted snugly across the front of said evaporator and having therein an opening registering with the front access opening of the evaporator. said panel member extending outwardly from the evaporator beyond the food compartment lining to the outer shell to provide a thermal breaker-strip therebetween and said panel member including a depending transverse lower edge portion disspaced lining providing a food storage compart-.

ment, a cooling evaporator mounted in the top of said compartment and having a front access opening thereto, a baille member spaced below said evaporator and operable to direct the circulation of air rearwardly across the bottom surface of the evaporator, a panel member fitted snugly across the front of said evaporator and having therein an opening registering with the front access opening of the evaporator, said panel member extending outwardly fromithe evaporator beyond the food compartment lining to the outer shell to provide a thermal breakerstrip therebetween and said panel member including a depending transverse lower edge portion disposed forwardly adjacent the forward edge of said baffle member and cooperable with the baiile to direct the circulation of airbetween the latter and said evaporator, and a door overlying the panel member and arranged to seat snugly thereagainstand close the opening therein thereby closing and sealing the front of the evaporator, the said panel member and its door being constructed and arranged to restrict the circulation of air over the'top, sides and interior of the evaporator, and the depending lower edge portion of the panel member serving to keep circulating air from the region of said door.

10. In a refrigerator comprising an outer shell, an inner lining; and a cooling evaporator disposed in the top of said lining, a front closure member for the top portion of the refrigerator comprising a unitary panel of material of low heat conductivity extending from the top and side front edges of the evaporator outwardly beyond the lining to the outer shell and providing both a seal about the front edges of said evaporator and a breakerstrip between said lining and outer shell.

member for the top portion of the refrigerator comprising a unitary panel ofmaterial of low heat conductivity extending from the'top and side front edges 'of the evaporator outwardly be- Cil 14. A refrigerator construction comprising a cabinet, an evaporator disposed in the top portion of said cabinet and having therein a plurality of laterally adjacent compartments open at the front, and a unitary panel member of insulating material entirely covering the top portion of the front of the refrigerator, said panel member having apertures therein regisyond the lining tothe outer shell and providing both a seal about the front edges of said evaporator and a breakerstrip between said lining and outer shell, and means fastening said front closure member to the lining and to the outer shell.

12. A refrigerator construction as claimed in claim l0 whereina bame member is spaced below the evaporator for directing air "across the lower surface of said evaporator, and wherein the front closure panel member has a depending portion residing forwardly adjacent the front edge of said battle to substantially exclude circulated air from the region of the front of the evaporator.

13. In a refrigerator, the combination of an outer shell, a food liner mounted in spaced re;- lation within said outer shell, an. evaporator having a front access openingdisposed in the between said evaporator and the door.

tering with said evaporator compartment openings and having rearwardly extending flange portions arranged to seat snugly against the front edges of the evaporator about the combeing contoured rearwardly from said flange to a main panel portion lying in a plane approximately parallel to and offset rearwardly from said marginal flangeportion, and said main panel portion having therein at least one opening for registration with the access opening of an evaporator.

16. A front closure panel for an evaporator and adjacent cabinet structure of a domestic refrigerator comprising a unitary member of material of low heat conductivity, said member having a relatively flat marginal flange portion extending about the top and sides thereof and being contoured rearwiardly from said flange to a'main panel portion lying in a plane approximately parallel to and offset rearwardly from said marginal flange portion, and said main panel portionhaving at its lower edgea forwardly extending flange portion terminating at its outer edge in a depending lip.

1'7. A front closure panel for an evaporator and adjacent cabinet structure of a domestic re-' frigerator comprising a unitary member of material of low heat conductivity, said member having a relatively flat'marginal flange portion extending about the top and sides thereof and being contoured rearwardly from said flange to a'main panel portion lying in a plane approximately parallel to and offset rearwardly from said marginal flange portion, and said main panel portion'having therein openings defined by rearwardlyextending flanges portions ar' ranged for engagement with the front edge portions defining the access opening of an evaporator.

4 18. A front closure panel for an evaporator and adjacent cabinet structure of a domestic ref frigerator comprising a unitary member of material of low heat conductivity, said memberhaving a relatively flat marginal flange portion ex- 5 tending about the top and sides thereof and,

member having openings therein defined by rearwardly extending flange portions arranged for engagement with the front edge portions defining the access openings of an evaporator.

Damn; E. DAILEY. 

